From left: Simply Magic and MillimetreOrville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE country's top distance horses hold centre stage at Caymanas Park today when 12 face the starter for the 24th running of the rich and prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes for native bred three-year-olds and up over 2000 metres.
In addition to the $3 million Superstakes, the meet's showpiece event, there are three other major sponsored races on the 11-race programme commencing at 11:30 a.m., all embracing the Red Stripe brand.
These are the $1.5 million Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint Championship for native bred three-year-olds and up over 1200 metres, the $1.25 million Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes over 1400 metres and the million-dollar Red Stripe Mile for imported horses.
With no fewer than five of the starters having sound claims in the Red Stripe Superstakes, it promises to be the most competitive in years.
There is little to choose from among the top four contenders, namely, Triple Crown winner SIMPLY MAGIC, stable-companion MILLIMETRE, AWESOME POWER and of course, MENUDO who seeks an historic fourth consecutive Superstakes win.
With Azan having saddled four of the last seven Superstakes winners, the George HoSang-ridden DORVAL in 1995 being the first, what better man to expound on the chances of the top contenders.
"If all goes well, I think Menudo can win again", he said. "I say if all goes well because he has declined somewhat this season due to unsoundness.
"This can be attributed to his failure to win even though running some brave races in defeat under big weights, notably her short head second to MILLIMETRE in the Pepsi Challenge Cup some weeks ago".
Azan went on to explain that MENUDO has been affected by minor joint problem, back ailment not to mention a bleeding problem.
"As a result, we have had to be working hard on him for each race. However, I am hoping that with the handicaps being in his favour this time, he can pull it off."
Azan sees the bold front running three-year-old filly SIMPLY MAGIC as the horse to beat by virtue of the conditions of weight allotment.
"She's the fly in the ointment with only 52.0kg", he declared. "What's more she has been working brilliantly."
To my mind, a lot will depend on how the early pace is run. If for argument's sake the genuine pace horses such as SIMPLY MAGIC, AWESOME POWER, MENUDO and BLACK THATCH run too fast from too early, then it could set up the race for a stalker like MILLIMETRE or for that matter, one of the late kicking three-year-olds such as SIR DONALD or the recent WITRA Classic winner MEDIC ON BOARD.
There is nothing much to choose between the classy four-year-olds MILLIMETRE and AWESOME POWER, both having featured in some epic battles since last year's Red Stripe Derby in which the filly AWESOME POWER prevailed by a nose.
When fit, both are seemingly joined together at the hip and chances are that MILLIMETRE and AWESOME POWER will once again go down to the wire together. Still, I believe MILLIMETRE will be stronger at the finish this time.
Indeed, champion trainer Philip Feanny holds a very strong hand with MILLIMETRE and SIMPLY MAGIC, who by virtue of the conditions of weight allotment is my idea of the winner.
By Royal Minister out of Fontainbleu, SIMPLY MAGIC needs little introduction, having won five races from six starts this season.
After completing that historic Triple Crown, SIMPLY MAGIC suffered a setback in training in midsummer which threatened her participation in the Superstakes. She was rushed into action for the WITRA Classic and after disputing the lead for a long way to straighten two lengths clear, came under pressure approaching the distance and weakened into fifth place, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Wayne DaCosta's MEDIC ON BOARD.
Since then she has been taken to task at exercise by Feanny and has really impressed, despite a slight hiccup some days ago when she reportedly spread a plate at exercise and went home sore.
To my mind, SIMPLY MAGIC seems ready to rewrite the history books, as she bids to become the first filly to win the Triple Crown and Superstakes the same year. A million dollar bonus from CTL awaits her owner, David Willers were she to accomplish the feat.
Back in action with only 52.0kg and Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding replacing her customary pilot Winston Griffiths who could not make the weight, SIMPLY MAGIC should race with the expected leaders BLACK THATCH, AWESOME POWER and MENUDO, before turning up the heat leaving the half mile. She should win from MENUDO, MILLIMETRE and AWESOME POWER, but as I stated earlier, ROYAL RUN is a dark horse to watch.
Feanny could well complete a clean sweep of the major races, as top sprinter I'MSATISFIED (Griffiths up) looks a cinch for the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint. The trainer should also win the Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders Stakes with his unbeaten colt A KING IS BORN, while his in-form American filly SPIRIT OR JAMAICA should extend her winning streak in the Red Stripe Mile for imported horses, a race in which METEOR MAN looks the main danger.
